Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-08-06
INTER-OCEAN
DEVILS LAKE.
The Health-Seeker's and Sports
mems Paradise.

A Delightful Salt Water Resort in North
Dakota-cooi Breezss in Midday,
and Colder Nights-Boating,
Bathing and Fishing.
Council Bluffs Qowa) Herald. |
DEVILS LAKE, Dakota, July 25.-When
we set forth from the handsome city by |
Lake Manawa, two weeks ago, I prom
ised mentally, if not verbally, that the
Herald should, if possible, have some
account of our success in finding a pleas
ant summer resort in the northern re-
gions of Dakota. The time is come
to fulfill that promise, and 1 beg the
readers indulgence to first gossip a lit
tie of incidents along the route hither,
ceedingly pleasant. We cameto st. Paul
by the Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Paul,
going from Council Bluffs to Savannah, 3D.
ILL.,, which carried us through a rich
portion of Iowa, amid unlimited fields
of magnificent corn, interspersed here
and there by ripe wheat fields. During
the night a heavy storm swept owe the
eastern part of the state, refreshing the
sultry air. At Oxford the dining car was
attached, and we were served with a
breakfast which I have never seen ex-
celled upon any line in Iowa. From first
to last it was q feast fit for gods, and was
served in elegant style. At Savannah,
after a pleasant goodbye from Jul Pull
man conductor, we were transferred to
what is jocularly called "The Flying
Dutchman;' probably because Of the
speed it makes as it darts around the
curves of the Mississippi, which it
closely follows in its course to st. Paul.
All the way the road hugs the root of the
high bluffs, and much of the time within
a stones throw of the river. 1t is a very
picturesque ride, and amply repays II
for the additional distance. All the little
towns are supported by the lumber bus
mess, which outranks all interests along
tho river. But it seemed strange that the
stream which has SO long borne the Dig
niied and honorable designation of
Father of Waters. should be so sluggish
that it could not bear a raft of logs to its
destination without the aid of a tug to
push it. Arriving at Winona this indus
try became more marked, and in many
places tho river was nearly blocked by
millions of logs. At sunset we passed
Lake Pepin, which exhibited itself iii its
greatest beauty at the close of.that hot,
dusty day, as we sped mile after mile
beside its placid bosom shut in by an
eve varying garment of green slopes,
steep hills and wooded crests.
At st. Paul and vicinity We found the
heat as %unbearable as at home, with the
exception Of cooler nights. The lakes in
the neighborhood OF the twin cities,
thronged by a mass of sweltering hui
manity seeking to escape the terrible
heat that prevailed all W the country,
seemed to offer but little comfort. Leav-
ing the sanity city at 1920 p. m. via the
st. Paul, Minneapolis Il Manitoba rail-
way, we were soon hurrying toward the
lake region Of Minnesota, flying past
Minnetonka's beautiful shores, through
woods and fields, inhaling the delicious
odors of the night.
~ " klAOASNAA1 AAA6hV AAAOs l
wa cool enough, in conjunction with the
smooth roadbed, to induce refreshing
sleep, we arrived at Casselton, where a
stop is made for breakfast. This meal
was very poor, but the hotel, whichis
situated up town, is not under the super
vision of tho Manitoba railroad, a COM
pany that apparently spares no efforts
for the comfort and convenience Of its
patrons. Leaving Cassclton our course
became nearly due north, and until l:3O,
at which time we reached Larimore, the
ride was charming and i'll many respects
ly, but it seemed sllorn OF it's strengt.,
and the light breeze from the east was $,
cool that the coach was only comfortable
with all OF the windows closed until mid
day. We were travelling along the west
ern edge of the famous Red river valley
II as far as ones vision could cxtent
on either side stretched a gently rolling
country with field after field of wheat O
vast extent, unbroken by a fence. ant
only now and then by natural groves
along some stream, or the lighter growth
of naples and poplars around some farm
house. Often as the eye sweeps ovel
these vast tracts Of level fields one is at
tracted by dark objects rising above thu
horizon line, distant perhaps twenty
miles; looking longer they are seen scat.
tered throughout the whole extent O.
ones vision. They are the grain eleva-
tors along the Manitoba road, which
threads this fertile valley like the veins
on the back of ones hand. Wheat is thu
staple ofthis great country; wheat every
where; and this year the wheat crop il
excellent in Dakota.
Larimore is at the intersection of one
of the north and south lines of the Mani
itoba road with its Crookston and ForI
Buford line running almost due east and
west. Here we changed cars, aud aftel
a brief stop proceeded westward OH the
remaining sixty-two miles of our Jour.
ney, reaching Devils Lake a little before
5o'clock. The country we last traversec
was slightly more %undulating than fur
ther south, but it presented the sam,
broad expanse of wheat fields, all in full
head, but not yet ripening.
The traveller cannot penetrate into this
vast northwest region without observing
with unusual interest the work of devel
opment that has been done and Is nov